Afternoon Contrast at Butterfly by local artist Chris Potter
This year’s mortgage rates are the lowest in more than 40 years.
Some analysts predict that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates later this year, but they should still be at their lowest levels since many of today’s homebuyers were born. That’s according to Freddie Mac’s September 2016 Outlook, which projects the 30-year fixed mortgage will average 3.6 percent for the year, down from 3.9 in 2015. The company is also optimistic about the housing market, upwardly revising its home price appreciation forecast to 5.6 percent this year and 4.7 percent in 2017. “The housing market remains a bright spot for the U.S. economy,” says Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist Sean Beckett. He predicts that mortgage originations will spike in the third quarter to reach their highest levels in four years.
“Practicing the Fine Art of Real Estate”
Every Memorial Day weekend, our local slice of paradise does something incredible. The historic plaza…
Explore this weekend’s featured open houses across the South Coast. From coastal retreats to hillside…
The Volume Surge: Total sales in April jumped 22% year-over-year. After a slow start to…
We’ve all seen the headlines. The "1%," the billionaires, the exploding cost of living—and right…
The Santa Barbara’s State Street Blues. It’s the first time in history a city might spend…
There's been a massive shift in the industry. As of early 2026, Compass has become a true…
